Inhaled Antibiotic Cuts Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
A short course of an inhaled antibiotic helped prevent the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU), a randomized trial in France showed. In critically ill patients intubated for between 3 to 4 days, administration of amikacin (Arikayce) reduced the rate of first ventilator-associated pneumonia compared with an inhaled placebo (15% vs […]
Inhaled Glucocorticoid Flops for Speeding COVID Recovery in Outpatients
Inhaled fluticasone furoate failed to shorten recovery time for non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19, new data from the adaptive ACTIV-6 trial found. When used daily for 2 weeks, a quicker COVID-19 recovery time — considered at least 3 consecutive days without symptoms — was no more likely with fluticasone furoate than with placebo (HR 1.01, 95% […]
Mint-Flavored E-Cigarettes Linked to Worse Lung Function
Use of electronic cigarettes with added menthol flavoring increased the number of inhaled particles and was associated with worse lung function in current or former combustion cigarette smokers, according to a study that used a specially designed robotic system that mimics the mechanics of breathing. Compared with e-cigarettes with liquids that were not flavored with […]
Dual Bronchodilators No Help for Symptomatic Smokers With Preserved Lung Function
Inhaled dual bronchodilator therapy did not decrease respiratory symptoms in former or current smokers with preserved lung function, the RETHINC trial showed. Among 535 symptomatic smokers with a 10 pack-year history and preserved lung function assessed by spirometry, 56.4% in the treatment group and 59.0% in the placebo group had a least a 4-point decrease […]
Black, Latinx Adults With Asthma Benefit from Inhaled Glucocorticoid Add-On
Black and Latinx patients who used an inhaled glucocorticoid as needed along with usual care had improved asthma outcomes, according to results from the PREPARE trial. In the study of patients with moderate-to-severe asthma, and compared to a control group that continued usual care only, the intervention group experienced a 15% decrease in risk of […]